Writing instrument



June 20, 1967 J. s BAER 3,326,189

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. .20, 1965 mvznron: JOHN S. B AER ATTYS.

United States Patent O souri Filed Aug. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 481,211 8Claims. (Cl. 120--42.03)

The present invention relates to a writing instrument, and, morespecifically, relates to improvements in the catch mechanism forreleasably holding the writing cartridge in extended position forwriting.

The present invention belongs to that class of writing instrument whichprevents accidental insertion of the writing instrument which preventsaccidental insertion of the writing instrument in a pocket with thewriting cartridge in extended position for writing. In such instrumentsof this class a pen barrel has a writing cartridge longitudinallydisposed therein with extended and retracted positions of a writing-point of the writing cartridge such that the writing point isalternatively exposed from the barrel for use or not exposed. A helicalspring surrounds a portion of the writing cartridge to urge a cartridgetoward its retracted position. A pocket spring clip is employed mountedto the barrel and having a free end for clipping the instrument to asidewall of the users pocket. When the instrument in writing conditionis inserted in the pocket with the free end of the clip and barrel onopposite sides of the sidewall of the pocket, the releasable catchmechanism automatically allows the writing cartridge to be released toits retracted position.

The present invention provides an improved releasable catch mechanismover the prior art mechanisms adapted for releasably holding the writingcartridge in extended position. The present invention employs a newconstruction and arrangement of catch mechanism parts for trouble-freeoperation and provides a catch mechanism which can be inexpensivelymanufactured and assembled in the writing instrument.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, a plunger isprovided engaging the writing cartridge in the barrel and is movablewith the cartridge between the extended and retracted positions thereof.The barrel has a slot through a sidewall thereof adjacent the free endof the pocket clip and a catch member is supported by the free end ofthe clip, which biases the catch member into the slot. A latch member issupported by the plunger and is biased into the slot for beingreleasably held by the catch member when the cartridge is moved to itsextended position by pushbutton preferably provided by the plunger. Inthis arrangement with the writing cartridge held in its extendedposition, when the instrument is inserted in a pocket, the sidewallpassing between the free end of the clip and the barrel will release thelatch member from the catch member thereby automatically retracting thecartridge to its retracted position.

For a better understanding of these and other features and advantages ofthe present invention, reference is made to the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing aportion of the internal construction of the writing instrument andshowing the writing cartridge in its extended position for writing;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section showing theinterlocking engagement between the portions of the barrel;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the catch mechanism of the presentinvention showing the pocket clip in alternative positions for holdingand releasing of the catch mechanism taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

f. IC

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the writingcartridge in its retracted position and the catch mechanism in itsreleased position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the members comprising thecatch mechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the freeend of the pocket clip providing the catch member of the presentinvention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the writing instrument comprisesgenerally a barrel generally designated 10, a writingcartridge 12, apushbutton actuator 14 for moving the writing cartridge to its extendedposition for writing, a pocket spring clip 16, and a catch mechanismgenerally designated 18 for releasably holding the writing cartridge inits extended position.

More specifically, the barrel is made of a two-piece constructioncomprising a rst portion designated 10a, hereinafter referred to as thefront portion where writing point 12a of writing cartridge 12 islocated, as seen in FIG. l, and a second portion 10b, hereinafterreferred to as the rear portion where the mechanism for propelling thewriting cartridge to extended position for writing is located. The rearportion 10b of the barrel comprises a sleeve 19 preferably of rigidresinous material and an outer shell 20 of metal press fitted over thesleeve. The front portion 10a may be made of a similar resinousmaterial. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the two-piece barrel construction offront and rear portions 10a and 10b is secured together in threadedengagement through externally threaded end 21 of front portion 10a andinternally threaded end 22 of rear portion 10b, the internally threadedend 22 being formed in sleeve 19.

As can be seen in FIG. l, the front portion 10a of the barrel has itsend opposite the threaded end terminated in a hollow conical barrel tipinsert 28 of metal which is snugly engaged within the bore of the frontportion of the barrel, the barrel tip insert 28 providing a suitableguide for the writing point of the writing cartridge. The writingcartridge 12 is urged toward the retracted position of its writing point12a by helical compression spring 30 closely surrounding the frontportion of the writing cartridge, the spring being seated at one endagainst a shoulder 32 at one end of the barrel tip insert 28 and at theother end against shoulders provided by lateral extensions formed byflattening an area 34 on the writing cartridge 12.

As can be seen most clearly in the sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 4, thepocket spring clip 16 of metal is mounted on the end wall of rearportion 10b to surround the protruding end of pushbutton actuator 14. Inthe present instance, sleeve 19 and outer shell 20 have aligned axialopenings 44 and 46, respectively, through the end wall of rear portion10b. The pocket spring clip has a portion 48 bent generallyperpendicular to the active longitudinally extending portion of the clipand has an opening therethrough. Portion 48 is clamped into positionagainst the end wall of the rear portion 10b by a tubular rivet 50extending through the respective aligned openings of the same diameterin the sleeve, outer shell and spring clip portion 48. The spring cliphas a laterally moveable free end generally designated 52 biased againstthe rear portion 10b of the barrel to facilitate holding of the writinginstrument to the sidewall of a pocket which may be moved between thefree end of the pocket spring clip and the barrel. The free end of thespring clip has an outwardly flared tip 54 from the barrel serving as aguide when inserting the sidewall of a pocket between the free end ofthe clip and the barrel.

An axially moveable plunger 69 of preferably the same resinous materialas the sleeve is located in the rear portion 1Gb of the barrel andengages the end of the writing cartridge located in the rear portion,the cartridge being inserted into a cylindrical bore 62 in one end ofthe plunger. The cartridge-plunger assembly is made of a twopiececonstruction in the embodiment shown, cartridge 12 and plunger 60;however, in other embodiments the cartridge-plunger assembly may be madeof a one-piece construction of a molded resinous material. The other endof the plunger in the embodiment shown has a reduced diameter portion 64extending through tubular rivet t) and protruding from the rear end ofrear portion 10b to provide the manually operable pushbutton actuator 14for projecting the writing cartridge to its extended position forwriting. The reduced diameter portion 64 of the plunger has a cap 66 ofmetal thereover extending the axial length of the reduced diameterportion, the tubular cap having a radially extending end within the rearportion b of the barrel for abutting against the rivet to limit theprotrusion of the end cap and reduced diameter portion of the plungerfrom the rear portion of the barrel.

As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plunger is provided with aplurality of axial splines 70 positioned around the periphery of theplunger adjacent the end engaging the writing cartridge, and matinggrooves 72 are provided along the bore of sleeve 19 of rear portion 10b.The splines prevent relative rotation between the plunger 60 and thesleeve but permit relative axial movement therebetween, thereby servingas guides in positioning the catch mechanism 18 associated with theplunger, as will be eX- plained more fully hereafter.

The releasable catch mechanism of the present invention comprisesinterlocking means provided on the free end of the pocket spring clipand the plunger, respectively. More specifically, the moveable free end52 of the spring clip is biased inwardly toward the barrel. As shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the free end 52 has an integral tab 76 bent inwardlytoward the barrel serving as a catch of the catch mechanism, the tabbeing hereinafter referred to as a catch member. The catch member 76 isarranged with respect to the barrel to project through a slot 78 in asidewall of the rear portion of the barrel, which is sleeve 19 and outershell 20. The slot 73 in the sidewall of the rear portion of the barrelprovides communication between the catch member on the spring clip withthe bore of the barrel. As indicated by the alternative positions of thefree end of the spring clip in FIG. 3, the bias of the clip urges thecatch member into the slot. The free end of the clip with this catchmember is withdrawn from the slot against the bias force urging itinwardly. The free end of the clip is provided with inwardly projectingarcuate shaped ears 82 and 84 on opposite sides of the clip to form acam-like channel-shaped portion within which the entire catch member islocated. The channel-shaped portion extends into the slot a distancefurther than the catch member and serves as a cam to allow easyinsertion of the sidewall of a pocket between the free end of the springclip and the barrel and to prevent sidewall from snagging on the catchmember.

The cooperating portion of the catch mechanism, cooperating with thecatch member to hold the writing cartridge in extended position forwriting is provided on the plunger 60. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 6,the end of the plunger having the axial bore into which the cartridge isfitted is provided with axially extending slots 86 and 38 to form aresilient cantilever arm 9) therebetween having a moveable free end 99a.Resilient arm 90 is biased outwardly at its free end and the arm isprovided with added resilience by undercutting the inner surface toreduce the thickness of the arms. The free end of the resilient arm isbiased into the slot and moves therein between the extended andretracted positions of the writing cartridge.

A radially outwardly extending latch member 92 is formed integrally withthe arm at the free end of the resilient arm 90. The latch member has abeveled front cam surface 92a to urge the latch member 92 and arm 90inward as the beveled surface moves against catch member 76 so that itmay pass catch member 76 in one direction With-out latching. The latchmember 92 also has a rear radially extending shoulder 92b to be engagedby the catch member for holding the writing cartridge in extendedposition for writing. The plunger moves within the rear portion 10b ofthe barrel and is actuated by the pushbutton actuator 14 to move thewriting cartridge to its extended position, and the latch member 92 onthe resilient arm is urged by its bias into slot 78. A recess 94 isprovided in the rear portion 10b aligned with the rear of slot 78 and ofsuicient depth radially outward to acomrnodate the latch member in theretracted position of the plunger. The catch member and latch member arerespectively biased into the slot from opposite sides thereof inoverlapping relation suc-h that the latch member must ride over thecatch when the plunger is moved by the pushbutton to actuate the writingcartridge to its extended position. Shoulder 92b of the latch memberprovides an abutment engageable by the catch member however; and uponrelease of the pushbutton after the writing cartridge is in extendedposition, as the plunger and writing cartridge under the urging ofspring 30 move to return toward their retracted positions interlockingof the catch member and latch member occurs, thereby holding the writingcartridge in extended position.

In order to release the catch mechanism, it is only necessary for thefree end of the pocket clip to be moved outwardly away from the barrel,as shown in the alternative position of the clip in FIGURE 3, therebymoving the catch member 76 free of shoulder 92h of the latch memberwhereby the cartridge and plunger will be automatically urged to theretracted position by spring 30. By this arrangement, if the writingpoint is in its extended position and the writing instrument isinadvertently inserted in the pocket of the user, movement of thesidewall of the pocket between the spring clip and the barrel will urgethe spring clip outwardly so that the catch and latch members aredisengaged; thereby under the urging of spring 30, the plunger andcartridge retract the writing point. As previously stated, thecam-shaped channel portion of the clip serves to keep the catch memberfrom engaging sidewall of the pocket as the writing instrument isinserted into the pocket.

In a modified form of the free end of the pocket clip illustrated inFIG. 7, wherein Imodified parts similar to those of the structure ofFIGS. 4-6 are identified by the same number designators wit-h theaddition of primes thereto, the catch member 76 is Aformed by bendingthe outwardly flared tip 54' back on its side and between the cam-shapedchannel portion formed by ears 82 and 84' and having the tip end of theclip bent inwardly toward the barrel between the channel portion suchthat a projection forming the catch member is provided.

It will be observed that the catch mechanism of the present inventionemploying the catch member mounted on the pocket spring clip and t-helatch member mounted on the plunger provide advantages over the priorart. The catch mechanism may be simply and inexpensively manufacturedthrough fabricating the clip by a stamping and fabricating the plungerby casting. The catch mechanism is easily assembled in that the springclip is simply attached to the barrel by a rivet and the plunger issimply slid into the rear portion of the barrel. The present writinginstrument is capable of trouble-free operation over a long life of theinstrument. Moreover, the present invention provides the desirablefeature of an automatically retractable writing cartridge upon insertionof lan intervening medium between the free end of the pocket clip andthe barrel of the writing instrument.

While the present invention has been described with particular referenceto a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it may beembodied in a large variety of forms diiierent from the one specilicallyshown and described without departing from the scope and spirit ofthepresent invention as delined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a writing instrument comprising a barrel having a writingcartridge-plunger assembly longitudinally disposed therein, saidcartridge-plunger assembly being moveable between retracted and extendedpositions of said writing cartridge-plunger assembly, said barrel havinga slot through a sidewall thereof, a pocket spring clip having one endmounted to said barrel and having a moveable free end biased towardengagement with said barrel at said slot, the combination therewith of:a catch member supported by said free end of said clip and projectinginto said slot when said free end of said clip is adjacent said barrel,cam means supported by said free end of said clip and depending nearsaid catch member and providing a surface over which an interveningmedium will pass as an intervening medium is inserted between said freeend of said clip and said barrel without catching said catch member, anda latch member supported by said cartridgeplunger assembly and biasedinto said slot for being releasably held by said catch member when saidcartridgeplunger assembly is moved to said extended position, wherebyinsertion of an intervening medium between said free end of said clipand said barrel will disengage said catch member and said latch memberthereby permitting retraction of said writing cartridge-plunger assemblyto said retracted position.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1 in which the cam means is providedby the free end of the clip having inwardly projecting sides into saidslot forming a channel between said sides, said catch member projectinginto said sl-ot between said sides.

3. The writing instrument of claim 1 in which the plunger is providedwith a resilient arm supported therefrom, said latch member beingsupported at a free end of said resilient arm and biased into said slotfor being releasably held by said catch member.

4. The writing instrument of claim 1 in which the barrel has anintern-al axial flat along a sidewall thereof and the plunger has atleast one axial at adapted to cooperate with said axial flat of saidbarrel for preventing relative rotation between the barrel and plunger.

5. A writing instrument having a writing cartridge comprising: a barreladapted to have said writing cartridge longitudinally disposed thereinwith retracted and extended positions of said cartridge, said barrelhaving a slot through a sidewall thereof, a pocket spring clip havingone end mounted to said barrel and having a moveable free end biasedtoward said ba-rrel, a catch member supported by said free end of saidclip and projecting into said slot, cam means supported by said free endof said clip 'and depending near said catch member and providing asurface over which an intervening medium will pass as an interveningmedium is inserted between said free end of said clip and said barrelwithout catching said catch member, a plunger slidably engaged withinsaid barrel and adapted to engage said cartridge and being moveableaxially with said cartridge between said retracted and extendedpositions, and a latch member supported by said plunger and biased intosaid slot for being lreleasably held by said catch member when saidcartridge is moved to said extended position, whereby insertion ofintervening medium between said free end of said clip and said bar'relwill disengage said catch member and said latch member therebypermitting retraction of said writing cartridge to said retractedposition.

6. The writing instrument of claim 5 in which said cam means is providedby said free end of said clip having inwardly projecting sides into saidslot forming a channel between said sides, said catch member extendinginto said slot between said sides.

7. The writing instrument of claim 5 in which the plunger is providedwith a resilient arm supported therefrom, said latch member beingsupported at a free end of said resilient arm and biased into said slotfor being releasably held by said catch member.

8. The writing instrument of claim 5 in which the barrel has an internalaxial at along a sidewall thereof and the plunger has at least onelaxial `iiat adapted to cooperate with said axial flat of said barrelfor preventing relative rotation between said barrel and plunger.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,585,843 5/1926 Fitch 1Z0- 42.032,715,888 8/1955 Liguori 1Z0-42.03 3,125,993 3/ 1964 Zeppel 1Z0-42.03

FOREIGN PATENTS 962,297 12/ 1949 France. 1,125,062 7/ 1956 France.1,351,513 12/1963 France.

984,437 2/ 1965 Great Britain.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BARREL HAVING A WRITINGCARTRIDGE-PLUNGER ASSEMBLY LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED THEREIN, SAIDCARTRIDGE-PLUNGER ASSEMBLY BEING MOVEABLE BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDEDPOSITIONS OF SAID WRITING CARTRIDGE-PLUNGER ASSEMBLY, SAID BARREL HAVINGA SLOT THROUGH A SIDEWALL THEREOF, A POCKET SPRING CLIP HAVING ONE ENDMOUNTED TO SAID BARREL AND HAVING A MOVEABLE FREE END BIASED TOWARDENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BARREL AT SAID SLOT, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF:A CATCH MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID FREE END OF SAID CLIP AND PROJECTEDINTO SAID SLOT WHEN SAID FREE END OF SAID CLIP AND ADJACENT SAID BARREL,CAM MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID FREE END OF SAID CLIP AND DEPENDING NEARSAID CATCH MEMBER AND PROVIDING A SURFACE OVER WHICH AN INTERVENINGMEDIUM WILL PASS AS AN INTERVENING MEDIUM IS INSERTED BETWEEN SAID FREEEND OF SAID CLIP AND SAID BARRELL WITHOUT CATCHING SAID CATCH MEMBER,AND A LATCH MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID CARTRIDGEPLUNGER ASSEMBLY ANDBIASED INTO SAID SLOT FOR BEING RELEASABLY HELD BY SAID CATCH MEMBERWHEN SAID CARTRIDGEPLUNGER ASSEMBLY IS MOVED TO SAID EXTENDING POSITION,WHEREBY INSERTION OF AN INTERVENING MEDIUM BETWEEN SAID FREE END OF SAIDCLIP AND SAID BARRELL WILL DISENGAGE SAID CATCH MEMBER AND SAID LATCHMEMBER THEREBY PERMITTING RETRACTION OF SAID WRITING CARTRIDGE-PLUNGERASSEMBLY TO SAID RETRACTED POSITION.